Thank you, John.

Thank you for electing me as your Governor for another 4 years. Serving in this office has been the honor of my life. I am grateful and humbled to the people who have trusted me to continue the progress that we've already made here.

As I write this email, we await election results that I hope will change the direction of our country and we will continue in that effort regardless of the outcome.

I spent much of the last four years visiting communities big and small all around our state. And no matter where I was, I found the same thing - North Carolinians are resilient. We are creative. We are innovative. Cooperative. Inclusive. And we do not give up easily.

And that's good, because in order to move forward in the coming weeks, we have a hard job ahead, and we have to get on with it. We have to work harder than ever to understand each other's perspective. To strive to respect each other even though our political beliefs may still be different. Then we need to come together as a state and realize North Carolina's boundless potential.

Now a lot of people may be wondering How? How in the aftermath of this rough election? How in the middle of a global pandemic? How with racial strife dividing many of our communities? How do we come together now?

It's time that we focus on what we have in common, rather than on our differences. Regardless of our political beliefs, most all of us want people to be healthy, to have a good paying job, and to live in safe communities. And we value our shared freedom that this great country has given us.

As we heal, we must focus on the priorities. Affordable health care. Public schools that can thrive. Clean air and water, no matter where you live. A reckoning of the systems that have excluded too many people. A steadfast commitment to strong and safe communities. An economy that will come back stronger for everyone - not just those at the top.

Today and for the next four years, I will work hard to be the Governor of every single North Carolinian.

Thank you for your continued trust in me,

Roy